Switch



1. H. KUHNS.

SWITCH.' APPucATmN min QCT. 11, 19r9.

1,373,008. l A PawntedMar.29,1921.

Levaece.

lll,

'A UNITED STATES P N TENT OFFICE.

JOHN KUHN', 0F WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASISIGNR, BY MESNE ASSIGN` MENTS, T IHI1-VOLTAGE EQUIPMENT COMPANY, vA CORPORATION 0F IPENNSYL- vente.

" SWITCH.

Speccatonnf Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. ce, 1921.

Application filed ctober 17, 1919. Serial No. 331,356.

To all' @einem et may concern.

,Be it known that I JOHN H. KUHNs, a citizen of the United-tates, and a resident of l/Vilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvaniaj have made a new and useful Invention in Switches, of which the :following isl a specification.

l lllhe invention relates to electric switches, and particularly to those for high tension currents known as thorn gap switches.77`

The invention has `iter" some of its 'more important objects; the provision or' a switch construction wherein the mechanical means for swinging the switch bar are simplified and improved; 'the provision of a Switch construction which may; be cheaply constructed and which is not liable to get out of order; the provision of a horn gap switch in which one of the horns ordinarily used may be dispensed with to advantage; and the provisionoi a switch having improved contact means for the switch bar and yin which the contact will not be vrendered inefiective by reason of sleet or snow. One embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, the dotted lines showing the switch bar in open position. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the apparatus with the housing over the switch contacts removed. And ig. 3 is a detail on an enlarged scale of the end of the contact bar.

Referring first to the general arrange ment or' parts, l is a base upon which are mounted the `metal insulator rods, 2 and 3, and the crank rod Al; 5 is a crank carried by the upper end of the crank rod and provided with an upwardly extending crank pin 6 at lits free end; 7, 8 and 9 are insu-` lators mounted respectively on the barsl 2 and 8 and crank pin G, such insulators being of the well known type commonly employed in connection with high tension currents;

" 10 is a bracket mountedupon the insulator 7 11 is a switch bar pivoted in the bracket 10 at 12 and having a crank arm 13; Mis :1 contact plate mounted upon insulator 8 and provided with contact means with which the bar 11 is adapted to co-'act when the bar is in its horizontal position; and 15 is a house ing mounted upon the contact plate and carrying an upwardly and laterally extending' horn 16.

18 and a con necting rod 21 is pivotally connected to this i pin at one end and to the crank endof the switch bar at its other end. The connections between the connecting rod 21 and the pin and crank end 13 are relativelyloose so thatthere is no binding at the connec tions when the crank arm 5 is-turned to opn crate the switch bar. The pin 20 is in substantial alinernent with the crank pin ii, while the center line of the lug 19 is in sub-- stantial alinement with the center line ci the crank rod 4. .The lug 19' is-connected with a lug 22 on the bracket 10 by means of a steady red 28.1 The lug 19 thus pra vides a second bearing for the'crank 5 and the insulator 9 carried thereby.

The crank rod 4 may be provided at its lower end with a crank and operated by any suitable mechanism inthe usual wa' and a second crank arm 2a preferably integral with the arm 5 serves as a means for con`l necting this apparatus with' another similar :apparatus or with a series of suchl appara tuses.

' The vswitch bar 11 is provided with a 1nevable end 25 pivoted to Ithe bar at 26 and also having a wire connection 27 for carrying the current across the joint. When the har .is in its lower position as illustrated in full lines, the end 25 is in alinement .with the main portion of the bar but when the bar is raised as indicated in dotted lines the end assumes the position illustrated. 25 preferably consists of the tapering side members shown in Figs. 2 and 3 secured togather by means of a nose piece 28, such nose piece being held 1n posltion by means of the countersunkl screws 29 so that such nose l piece may be readily replaced: A stop pin The "end I 26a on the bar 1l engages the lug 26 on the part 25, and prevents the joint breaking downward below the position shown in F102 l. p

lhe contact plate 14: is provided with a ypair of upstanding plates or lugs 30 in which are slidably mounted pairs of pins 8l.,x such pins carrying at their forward ends the contact plates 82. The plates are yieldingly held in forward position by means of coil :mav

springs 33 mounted on the pins 31. `The i platesare connected to the lead 34, while the bracket 10 on the insulatorv? isconnected to the other lead 35. A housing lies above the contacts onthe .plate 14, such housing being removably secured to the plate 14 and serving'to protect the contacts from snow and sleet. In the operation of closing the switch the crank rod 4 is turnedswinging the crank 5 and causing the switch bar 11 to move down from the dotted line position. The inclined switch end first engages the upper surface .the switch: bari-'end 25 and the horn 15. As' 'the arc extends .from fthe nose piece 52@ to.,- the horn `16,.such nose piece is the part worn j ofl the contact plate 14 and as -the switch time,.as the end'251eaves the l,plate 14 :an g arc issetup between the switchend and thev housin' x15 V`and the arev continues between an vlli'orn .16 :as thelbar rises. -wo'rks .u

rd and is broken between away 'and this part may be lreadily replaced when itfb'e'comes necessary.. In closing 'theswitch,..the"heatincident to arcmg serves' to clear the {contacts' of any snow 0r sleet which .mayhave collected {while'the switch'was open.' The contact Varrangement, just de-y scribed insures a' relatively perfect engagement between the contacting surfaces cause of the sliding engagementand the inclined yielding plates.

The switch construction is relatively cheap and not liable to get out 'of order. The insui lators employed are of standard construction and the wearing parts areinexpensive and easily replaced. The crank arrangement with the connection 20 at theA center of the insulator imposes" no twisting `strain upon the insulator tending to loosen or break the insulator such as is the case where theginsulator'itself constitutes a crank with its connection off center with respect to the center of the insulator.l The wear upon the bearing of the crank 5 is reduced to a minimum by the use of the steady bar 23 which further reduces the strain upon the insulator 9. The arrangement involving the use of the switch bar end 25 not only insures a satisfactory contact when the switch bar is closed but also eliminates the requirement for a second horn such as is often carried by the switch bar although the switch bar may be provided with ahorn if so desired. Other advantages incident to the construction will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

' What. claim is:

1. In combination in a switch, an insulatorl provided with contact means, a second insulator, a switch bar having a crank end and pivoted o n the second insulator and adapted to make contact at its free end with said contact means, a crank adjacent the first. insulator movablein a plane transverse to the plane of movementl of the switch bar and having a crank pin at its end, a third iu` sulator mounted upon said crank pin, and a connectionV between the .crank end of the switch bar and saidl third insulator.

2. 4In, combination in a switch bar, an insi'ilator provided with contact means, a

second insulator, aswitch bar having a crai.4 k endand pivoted on the second insulator and adapted to make contact at its free end with said contact means, an insulated crank member located intermediate the two insulators movable ina plane transverse to the plane of movement o the switch bar, and a connectingi rod pivoted vat one end to the crank end. ofthe switch'bar and at its other end to said crank member.

r- 3.1 .In combination a switch, an insulator provided with contact means; a second'- insulator, a switch bar having a crank end and pivoted on the second insulator and adapted bar and having a crank pin at its end, a third'insulator mountedf upon said crank pin, 'and a connection between the crank end of the switch bar and said third insulator. 4. In combination in a switch, an insulator provided, with contact means, a second insulator, a switch bar having a crank end' pivoted at one end for movement upon said second insulator and adapted to make-contact at its free end with said contact means, a crank movable in a plane transverse to the lane of movement of the switch bar, and

aving an u right crank pl at its free end, a third insu ator mounted upon said crank pin, a connection extending laterally from the crank end of -theswitch bar and pivoted on the third insulator at a point in alinement with said crank'pin, and a steady bar secured at oneend to said second insulator, and pivoted at the other end upon the third insulator at a point in vertical alinement with the axis of rotation of said crank upon which the third insulator is mounted.

5; In combination in a switch, an insulator provided with a pair of opposing extending contact members mounted above a guide surface, a second insulator, a switch bar pivoted at one end thereon for movement toward and from the first insulator, and a contact end pivoted for movement in the `.to make contact at its free end with said con tact means, a crank located intermediate the :two insulators movable in a plane transjiverse to the-plane of movement of the switch the opposing contact members as the bar ap-r proaches its final position and the said contact end is brought toward alinement with the switch bar.

G. In combination in a switch, an insulator provided with a pair of opposing contact members inclined toward each other, a guidesurface on the insulator below the contact members, a 'second insulator, a switch bar pivoted at one end thereon for movement toward and from the first insulator, and a contact end pivoted for movement in the plane of movement of the switch bar on the i'ree end of such bar, and having contact surfaces at its sides inclined toward each other, the said end being adaptedA when moved to closed position to engage the said guide surface and then slide between the opposing Contact members as the bar appreaches its final position and the said con tact end'is brought toward alinement with the switch bar. l

7. In combination in a switch, an insulator provided with a pair of opposing contact members inclined toward each other, a guide surface on the insulator below the contact members, a second insulator, a switch bar pvoted at one end thereon for movement toward and from the irst'nsulator, and a contact end pivoted for movement in the plane of movement ein, the switch bar on the free end ofthe switch bar, and comprising a pair `of side contact members inclined toward each other and a removable wear block secured between the forward' ends oi' said members, the said endbein,gr adapted when lowered to engage Said guide surface and then slide between the first mentioned contact members as the bar approaches its lower position andthe said end approaches alinement with the switch bar. i

In testimony whereof, `I have hereunto i subscribed my name this 16th day of October,.1919.

JOHN H. KUHNS. 

